-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Dancers have put on a dazzling display atop extravagant floats at the legendary annual Rio Carnival . Thousands of revelers cheered as dancers shimmied and shook their colorful costumes through the streets of the Brazilian city .

Seven-year-old Julia Lira took her place as the drum corps queen for the Viradouro School of Samba despite criticism that she was too young to fill a role normally reserved for voluptuous adult dancers .

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Parade of color during annual Rio Carnival in Brazil

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Dancers included seven-year-old Julia Lira , despite criticism that she was too young